The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-08-11
NOTES FROM A DIARY.
1LETTER NO. 5. /

We left Catlett Station about Z
O'Clock on the evening of August %.
and went about four miles aud were
halted. Firing was heard in the direc-
ton of Manassas junction, and a
bright light was also seen in that di-
rectien. The next day We learned that
heavy force of rebels, under jackson,
had taken Manassas Junction, burned
the depot and several trains of cars
loaded with supplies for our army and
had started down the railroad, tearing
up the track and burning bridges. The
next morning, when Within about two
miles from our wagon train, they met
brigade of Pennsylvania troops and
after severe fight and q charge by our
men, who captured battery from the
rebels, Jackson turned his forces to the
left and soon disappeared. In this
fight there were 30 killed and 100
wounded on our side. The loss of the
rebels ia unknown. We reached Ma
nassas Junction next morning about
sunrise, and found nothing but the
smoking ruins of the depot and cars
1t had now been about two weeks since
we left the Rapadan, aud there had
been fighting and skirmishing going
on almost constantly, day and night,
during that time August %, soon
after our arrival at Manassas junction
heavy firing was heard about five or
Elk mil, TO the northwest of US, on or
near the celebrated Bull Run battle
ground. Quite q large body of troops
passed to the left and halted beside the
railroad and stacked arms. 1t was re
ported that they belonged to Porter's
Corps. We lay at Manassas Junction
nearly all day and were in sight of the
| l. AZ n 70
US and appeared to be looking for good
positions to place troops or plant bat
teries. Just at night we were ordered
to move down to the bank of Bull Run
creek and halt until morning. Here
we found several hundred rebel pris-
oners under guard.
August 80, we reached Centerville
about 8 o'clock in the morning. There
was some desperate fighting done that
day, the rebs broke our lines in the
afternoon. We were still with the
wagon train. Sunday morning, Aug.
3Ist, were ordered to move the wagon
train to Fairfax Court House, about 8
miles. About o'clock in the after
noon, of the 3lst, heavy firing was
heard about miles from FairfaxCoHrt
House, in the direction of Chsnttls.
Jackson had flanked our army and
was moving rapidly up the Alexandria
aud Winchester pike, and was that
near Fairfax Court House when dis
covered by Gen. Kearney, who laid
down his life here In one Of the most
desperate fights of the war. JacksOn's
forces were checked and turned in an
opposite direction. We believe that
this fight in which Gen. Kearney was
killed saved our army and Washington
City from capture. AS soon as the
fight began between Gen, Kearney
aud Jackson we were ordered TO move
our wagon train to Alexandria. Many
of the teansters became panic stricken
and unmanageable, and it was reck>
less race all the way to Alexandria,
and the wrecks of good many wagons
were strewn along the road. We
crossed the long bridge at Alexandria
to the Maryland side of the river. and
went into camp beside large field OF
potatoes, which the soldiers volun-
teered to dig, and although chain of
guards was placed around the Held,
before night every hill was dug. The
way the soldiers managed was for one
of their number to get arrested by the
guard and while he was being marched
off, dozen or more would pass into
the field and while these were being
chased out another squad stood ready
to GO in, and this game was kept up
until the field was stripped. Whether
the owner of the field was ever COM
pensated, or even thanked, Is more
than we know. w. ID. BErTEs.